(Author’s note: Lt. Gen. Dan P. Bolger took over as NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan commanding general on Nov. 5.)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Then-incoming NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan commanding general Lt. Gen. Dan P. Bolger had been in the country for less than 48 hours when he made the one-hour-plus flight from Kabul to Kandahar to check out operations in southern Afghanistan.
Bolger began his visit by meeting with Afghan National Army and Police leaders in the Southern region.
At the ANP’s Regional Training Center, Afghan Uniform Police recruits impressed Bolger as the new commander watched recruits demonstrate weapons handling, riot control and medical procedures. The new commander said he was pleased to see Afghan instructors upfront conducting the training.
Meeting with, AUP Brig. Gen. Nasrullah Zarifi, commandant, ANP Training, Southern Region and his lead adviser, Romanian Gendarmerie Col. Ovidiu Vasilica, Bolger discussed the procedures in-place for the transition of police training to full Afghan responsibility.
The leaders also discussed plans to move all of the current Police Training Centers in the South to one central location in Kandahar.
Transition was also the theme at the Regional Military Training Center-South near Kandahar Airfield.
Basic warrior training was in full force at the RMTC as Bolger toured the facility. Though coalition forces act as advisers, all of the training is conducted by Afghan National Army soldiers.
As Bolger observed, BWT trainees fired their M16 rifles at the Camp Hero range complex. He also observed as other recruits familiarized themselves with M249 and M240B weapons systems.
Bolger told ANA Col. Haroon Momand, commandant for ANA training in the South, that he was impressed with the Afghan trainers.
ANA leaders also told Bolger their facility is the first in all of Afghanistan to transition the up-armored humvee course to complete Afghan control.
Bolger and Momand also discussed the background of Infantry non-commissioned officer battle courses that will also be taught by ANA soldiers.
During his tour of the South, Bolger also got a first-hand look at both ANA and ANP logistics centers as well as the Kandahar Air Wing and the Regional Operations Coordination Center, where ANA and ANP work together to provide security for the country’s Southern region.
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